Apparatus for setting safety flares

ABSTRACT

A convenient carrying box or tray is provided for handling pyrotechnic flares such as are widely employed for safety marking at highway accidents and the like. A serrated jaw on the box serves to grip the cap of a flare so that, with one hand, flares can be rapidly decapped for use. A box handle and a ramp guide a flare into the decapper. A cap holder supports a cap having a striking surface for lighting a flare and spring clips or the like are provided for holding a lighted flare for providing safety to the user and an ignition source for subsequent flares.

United States Patent lnventor Roger W. Schaefer Arcadia, Calif.

Appl. No. 867,459

Filed Oct. 20, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Kel-Lite Industries,Inc.

Covina, Calif.

APPARATUS FOR SETTING SAFETY FLARES 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Primary ExaminerRobert F. Stahl Att0meyChristie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT:A convenient carrying box or tray is provided for handling pyrotechnicflares such as are widely employed for safety marking at highwayaccidents and the like. A serrated jaw on the box serves to grip the capof a flare so that, with one hand, flares can be rapidly decapped foruse. A box handle and a ramp guide a flare into the decapper. A capholder supports a cap having a striking surface for lighting a flare andspring clips or the like are provided for holding a lighted flare forproviding safety to the user and an ignition source for subsequentflares.

APPARATUS FOR SETTING SAFETY FLARES BACKGROUND Pyrotechnic flares areextensively used for traffic control and warning at the scene of highwayaccidents. The value of such warning flares is of particular importanceon freeways and other modern high speed highways where approachingautomobiles need warning of hazardous conditions as far as possible fromthe condition in order to provide adequate room to stop. It is,therefore, important that flares be provided at a large distance from afreeway accident or the like in as short a time as possible so thatoncoming cars are alerted to the hazard quickly and at a substantialdistance from the scene. This avoids aggravating the accident conditionby other cars colliding and minimizes the possibility of additionalinjury to persons involved in the first accident.

Pyrotechnic flares are also employed in other situations where rapiddeployment of the flares is of interest. Thus, for example, flares areemployed as warning devices on the railroads and by fire departments,and flares are sometimes employed by the forest service and other firedepartments for lighting backfires in fighting brush and grass fires.

Pyrotechnic flares are cylinders of pyrotechnic material, usuallywrapped in paper and waxed to prevent intrusion of water which may behazardous. A paper cap, usually having a wooden end, is placed over thepaper wrapping of the flare at one end. A fabric tape is formed as partof the cap so that as the tape is stripped away to remove the cap, aportion of the paper is removed to expose an end of the cap on which isprovided a bonded emery patch substantially the same as is used forstriking matches. In order to use the flare, the tape may be pulled toexpose the emery striking surface, and then the cardboard cap is twistedoff. The emery on the cap is struck against the end of the flare soexposed to ignite the pyrotechnic material of the flare. After one flareis lighted, subsequent flares can be lighted by merely twisting off thecap and touching the end of the new flare to the already lighted flare.In use at an accident scene, lighted flares are laid on the ground in apattern extending into the stream of traffic away from the accidentscene. It is desirable to lay the flares on the ground rather thandropping them since the pyrotechnic material is brittle and a flare maybe extinguished if it is dropped. Dropped flares may also roll out ofthe desired pattern.

It has been the practice when a police unit arrives at an accident scenefor the officer to alight from the car and remove a box of flares fromthe trunk. The ofl'rcer may take a handful of flares and proceed alongthe highway lighting them, or preferably carries the box to provide agreater supply of flares than can be carried by hand. The officer mayfirst light a flare and lay it on the ground, then decap a second flare,light it from the first and carry it and the box to the point where thesecond flare is to be laid. It is then necessary to set the box down,pick out another flare, decap it with both hands, light it from thesecond laid flare and proceed along the highway in the same manner.

A somewhat more efficient way is to light and lay a flare in the samemanner for protection of the officer, and then manually decap a numberof flares putting them back in the box, then proceed along the desiredflare pattern, laying a flare, lighting one of the decapped ones fromthe laid flare and proceed along the desired flare pattern. With such atechnique, tests have shown that the total elapsed time from firstaccess to the flares to laying of the last flare, when 21 flares werelaid in a pattern 630 feet long, was 4 minutes 45 seconds. Clearly, on amodern freeway an enormous number of cars may have approached anaccident scene in an elapsed time of this sort. Of significant interestis the time required to commence laying flares in the pattern whichvaries from about 55 to 75 seconds, during which time very littleprotection is afforded at the accident scene.

Not only is the laying of flares a time consuming process but also it ishazardous in that sparks from flares often burn holes in officersuniform or cause skin burns, and some officers have suffered eye damageduring laying flares. Handling flares in the conventional manner alsomay leave wax on the officers uniform, requiring cleaning. In addition,during the laying of a flare pattern in the present technique, it isnecessary for the officer to frequently remove his eyes from theoncoming traffic so that he is personally subjected to hazard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, in the practice of this inventionaccording to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a safetyapparatus for use with pyrotechnic flares comprising a box or the likefor carrying a number of flares for quick access plus a decapper on thebox for engaging a flare cap so that it can be removed with one hand.The box also provides means for holding a lighted flare for protectingthe user and providing an ignition source for lighting subsequentflares. A guide is provided for leading flares into the decapper so thatflares can be quickly manually decapped without visually observing theprocess.

DRAWINGS Objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will beappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a flare setting apparatus constructedaccording to principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of flare setting device; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the device of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a device for settingsafety flares according to principles of this invention. As illustratedin this embodiment, there is provided a box or tray having a pair ofsides 10 which are typically about 6 inches high. The ends 11 of the boxhave a portion extending above the sides to support a cylindrical handle12 extending between the two ends 11. The handle 12 is raised above thetop of the sides 10 a sufficient distance that a user can readily reachwithin the box to withdraw a flare. The length of the box is sufficientto accommodate the usual size flares employed by various police units,and may vary from about 10 to 18 inches to accommodate differentstandard sizes of flares. Thus, for example, some departments employflares burning l5 or 20 minutes, and other departments employ flaresburning for as long as 30 minutes. The bottom 13 of the box has aplurality of apertures 14 to permit water drainage in case the flare boxis used in rainy weather. A box of this nature is conveniently bent andwelded from sheet steel or aluminum, preferably the former to withstandthe rigorous treatment of police use. Steel tubing is preferablyemployed for the handle 12 to maintain light weight.

An end 16 of the handle 12 extends through and beyond one end 11 of thebox to provide a short extending cylinder on which a flare cap (notshown) can be placed for striking a flare. If desired, longitudinalslits may be provided in the protruding end 16 to aid in installationand retention of a cap on the cylinder.

A decapper 17 is welded on the handle 12 forwardly of the center of thehandle. This permits the user to carry the box with his hand over itscenter and have the decapper 17 forward of his hand. The decappercomprises a U-shaped rigid metal piece such as, for example,3Il6-thick-inch steel. The open end of the U-shaped decapper is toward aforward end of the box and the bight of the U is adjacent the portion ofthe handle where the users hand would be.

Within the opening of the U-shaped decapper, a few large serrations orteeth 18 are provided along each side for gripping a flare cap. Thedistance between the ends of the teeth 18 in the decapper is somewhatlarger than the diameter of a standard flare. The bight end 19 of theU-shaped opening in the decapper has a circular are having a radiusslightly larger than the radius of a standard flare and smaller than theradius of the wooden plug in a flare cap, for example, about a inchradius. Since the opening of the U-shaped decapper is slightly above thetop of the handle 12, a short guide ramp 21 is provided at the inlet forguiding a flare into the decapper. In use, the forward part of thehandle and the ramp cooperate to guide the flare.

In the forward end 11 of the box an alternate decapping hole 22 may beprovided. Teeth or serrations 23 are provided on opposite portions ofthe hole 22. This alternate decapper is operated by sticking the cap endof a flare through the hole 22 and tilting or skewing the flare upwardlyrelative to the end of the box. As the flare is withdrawn from the hole,the teeth 23 engage the edge of the flare cap or the wooden plug of theflare cap so as to retain it and permit the flare to be withdrawn fromthe cap. The removed cap then falls into the box, if not immediately,when the next flare is inserted. The open edged decapper 17 on thehandle is preferred since it is more easily operated than the alternatedecapper comprising a hole in the end of the box. Other alternatedecappers can be provided if desired, such as an elongated hole havingan enlarged opening at one end for inserting a flare and serrationsadjacent the other end for engaging the flare cap. A circular hole withteeth all around the edge may be used. Likewise, if desired, serrationson a hole may be bent inwardly to provide a tapered aperture in which toinsert a flare and teeth pointed toward the flare cap when it iswithdrawn to assure engagement. A tapered slot can be employed for adecapper, however, the body of the flare rather than the cap may beinadvertently engage. The alternate decapper may be provided on the sideof the box if desired and if done so, two or four decapping holes arepreferred to accommodate rightor left-handed operation and allow pickingup the box from either side.

A pair of spring clips 24 are bolted or welded on the forward end 11 ofthe box so that a lighted flare 26 can be gripped and carried with thebox to provide protection for the user and a source of ignition forsubsequent flares. Tests have shown that a flare in the clips 24 canburn clear down to the end without damage to the clips or the box, andwithout igniting other flares carried in the box.

In order to use the flare-setting apparatus, it is carried by one handin the center of the handle with the decapper 17 forwardly of the hand.A flare is withdrawn from the box with the other hand and the side ofthe flare laid on the top of the handle l2 forwardly of the opening inthe decapper. The flare is then drawn along the length of the handle soas to ride up the ramp 21 and into the open part of the U-shapeddecapper. The flare is then drawn laterally across the handle so as tobring the cap of the flare into engagement with the curved end 19 of thedecapper opening. The cap is caught by the curved end 19 or the .teeth18 and stopped so that the flare is withdrawn from the cap. Lifting ofthe free end of the flare and twisting may enhance engagement of the capwith the teeth for sure removal.

The cap is then placed on the end 16 of the handle protruding from theforward end of the box so that the striking surface on the cap ispresented at the end. Normally this step is not required since a cap isalready present on the protruding end from a previous use. It ispreferred to leave a cap on the protruding end to gain the few secondsof time saved thereby. The flare from which a cap has just been removedis then struck on the emery on the end of the cap on the protrudingportion 16, and the flare so lighted is placed in the spring clips 24 sothat a lighted flare may be carried at all times when the box is in use.The next flare is lighted by slapping the flare onto the handle, slidingback into the decapper, pulling off the cap and touching against thealready lighted flare 26, all of which can be done while the officer iswalking along the desired flare pattern. As each subsequent flare islighted, it can he laid onto the ground and the operation rapidlyrepeated so that the officer does not stop, but only hesitates to layeach flare on the ground. Further, the officer need not remove his eyesfrom oncoming traffic except momentarily when touching a decapped flareto the lighted flare.

Actual tests with such a safety flare-setting apparatus show that about2 minutes and 15 seconds are required to merely pick up the flare boxand walk 630 feet without laying any flares. Only about 2 minutes and 30seconds are required to light and lay 2i flares in the 630 feet whenusing the flaresetting apparatus hereinabove described. Only anadditional 15 seconds is required to lay the full flare pattern. In theprevious technique of manually decapping and laying flares which requiretwo hands, an elapsed time of about 4 minutes 45 seconds was required tolay 21 flares in a 630 foot distance. Thus, it is seen that with theimproved flare-setting device, the total time for laying flares issubstantially cut in half and, what may be more significant, the firstflares laid in the pattern are in place almost immediately as comparedwith an elapsed time of from 55 seconds to 1 minute [5 seconds by theold technique.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a flare-settingapparatus constructed according to principles of this invention. Asprovided in this embodiment, a cylindrical handle 31 has four metalstrips 32 descending therefrom and connected at their lower ends to atubular base 33. A plurality of spring clips 34 (only a pair of whichare illustrated) are provided along the vertical strips 32 with pairs ofclips along each side of the apparatus, each holding a flare 36. Thus, asubstantial number of flares are racked along each side of theflaresetting apparatus.

A U-shaped decapper 37 substantially the same as the decapper 17hereinabove described is welded onto the handle 31. An end 38 of thehandle extends beyond the strips 32 at one end for providing a capsupport in substantially the same manner as the cap support 16hereinabove described. The tubular base 33 has a portion 39 extending asubstantial distance forwardly of the strips 32 so that a lighted flare(not shown) can be inserted into the end for carrying to lightsubsequent flares as hereinabove described. The extending portion 39 isbeyond the racked flares 36 so that the lighted flare does not igniteother flares prematurely. A plug (not shown) is provided in the tubularend 39 to prevent the lighted flare from going clear in, or if desiredthe protruding end 39 may be bent upwardly for retaining the lightedflare and for preventing the flare from going into the tubing an excessdistance.

The flare holder illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used in substantiallythe same manner as the apparatus hereinabove described and illustratedin FIG. 1 except that the flares are taken from the sides of the rackrather than being lifted out of the box.

Although only two examples of apparatus according to principles of thisinvention have been set forth herein, many modifications and variationswill be apparent to one skilled in the art. Thus, for example, insteadof employing a sheet metal box as in FIG. 1, an open frame for carryingthe original cardboard packing box for flares may be employed with asuitable handle, decapper, cap holder and flare holder on the frame.Such a frame can be made adjustable to accommodate different size flareboxes. Similarly, instead of carrying the flares horizontally as in FIG.1, a vertically extending box may be employed, if desired. Clearly,other locations of the decapper, flare holder and cap holder may beemployed, if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety device for use with pyrotechnic flares having a protectivecap comprising:

support means for carrying a plurality of flares in position for readyaccess;

decapper means on the support means for engaging a flare cap forremoval; and

means for holding a lighted flare on the support means.

2. A safety device as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for holding a removed flare cap in position on the support meansfor lighting a flare.

3. A safety device as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

guide means for guiding a manually held flare into the decapper means.

4. A safety device as defined in claim 3 wherein the decapper meanscomprises a rigid member having an open edged aperture having at least aportion wider than the body of a flare and narrower than the cap of theflare for engaging a cap for removal from the flare.

5. A safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein the decapper meanscomprises a rigid member having a serrated aperture.

6. A safety device as defined in claim 5 wherein the rigid member of thedecapper is open on one edge to admit a flare body into the serratedaperture; and

further comprising guide means adjacent the opening for guiding amanually held flare into the open edge of the aperture.

7. A safety device as defined in claim 6 wherein the support meanscomprises a box having an open top and a handle extending over the opentop of the box;

the rigid member forming the decapper means is mounted on the handlewith the open edge facing along the handle so that the handle cooperateswith the decapper to form at least a portion of the guide means.

8. A safety device as defined in claim 7 further comprising an extendingcylinder on the box for holding a removed flare cap in position forlighting a flare, and wherein the means for holding a lighted flarecomprises a spring clip on the box for engaging the body of a flare.

9. A safety device as defined in claim 6 wherein the support meanscomprises:

a handle;

a rack depending from the handle; and

means for holding a plurality of flares on the rack;

the rigid member forming the decapper means being mounted on the handlewith the open edge aligned along the handle so that the handlecooperates with the open edge of the aperture for forming at least aportion of the guide means;

the means for holding a lighted flare comprises a tubular member inwhich a flare body can be inserted; and further comprising an extendingcylinder for holding a flare cap in position for lighting a flare.

10. An apparatus for setting safety flares comprising:

a carrying structure for carrying a plurality of pyrotechnic safetyflares;

a handle on the carrying structure for manual carrying; and

a rigid U-shaped member secured along one leg on the handle so that aportion of the handle extends beyond the open end of the U for guiding amanually held flare into the open part of the U; the U-shaped rigidmember having decapper means within the open portion of the U for freelypassing a flare and for engaging a flare cap.

11. An apparatus for setting safety flares as defined in claim 10further comprising means on the carrying structure for holding a removedflare cap in position for lighting a flare; and

means for holding a lighted flare on the carrying structure.

12. An apparatus for setting safety flares as defined in claim 10further comprising a cylindrical extension of the handle beyond thecarrying structure for holding a removed flare cap in position forlighting a flare; and

a spring clip on an end of the carrying structure for holding a lightedflare.

13. An apparatus for setting safety flares as defined in claim 10wherein the decapper means comprises:

a plurality of serrations in the opening for engaging a flare cap: and

a portion of the opening having a width greater than the diameter of aflare and less than the diameter of a flare cap.

1. A safety device for use with pyrotechnic flares having a protectivecap comprising: support means for carrying a plurality of flares inposition for ready access; decapper means on the support means forengaging a flare cap for removal; and means for holding a lighted flareon the support means.
 2. A safety device as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising: means for holding a removed flare cap in position on thesupport means for lighting a flare.
 3. A safety device as defined inclaim 1 further comprising: guide means for guiding a manually heldflare into the decapper means.
 4. A safety device as defined in claim 3wherein the decapper means comprises a rigid member having an open edgedaperture having at least a portion wider than the body of a flare andnarrower than the cap of the flare for engaging a cap for removal fromthe flare.
 5. A safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein the decappermeans comprises a rigid member having a serrated aperture.
 6. A safetydevice as defined in claim 5 wherein the rigid member of the decapper isopen on one edge to admit a flare body into the serrated aperture; andfurther comprising guide means adjacent the opening for guiding amanually held flare into the open edge of the aperture.
 7. A safetydevice as defined in claim 6 wherein the support means comprises a boxhaving an open top and a handle extending over the open top of the box;the rigid member forming the decapper means is mounted on the handlewith the open edge facing along the handle so that the handle cooperateswith the decapper to form at least a portion of the guide means.
 8. Asafety device as defined in claim 7 further comprising an extendingcylinder on the box for holding a removed flare cap in position forlighting a flare, and wherein the means for holding a lighted flarecomprises a spring clip on the box for engaging the body of a flare. 9.A safety device as defined in claim 6 wherein the support meanscomprises: a handle; a rack depending from the handle; and means forholding a plurality of flares on the rack; the rigid member forming thedecapper means being mounted on the handle with the open edge alignedalong the handle so that the handle cooperates with the open edge of theaperture for forming at least a portion of the guide means; the meansfor holding a lighted flare comprises a tubular member in which a flarebody can be inserted; and further comprising an extending cylinder forholding a flare cap in position for lighting a flare.
 10. An apparatusfor setting safety flares comprising: a carrying structure for carryinga plurality of pyrotechnic saFety flares; a handle on the carryingstructure for manual carrying; and a rigid U-shaped member secured alongone leg on the handle so that a portion of the handle extends beyond theopen end of the U for guiding a manually held flare into the open partof the U; the U-shaped rigid member having decapper means within theopen portion of the U for freely passing a flare and for engaging aflare cap.
 11. An apparatus for setting safety flares as defined inclaim 10 further comprising means on the carrying structure for holdinga removed flare cap in position for lighting a flare; and means forholding a lighted flare on the carrying structure.
 12. An apparatus forsetting safety flares as defined in claim 10 further comprising acylindrical extension of the handle beyond the carrying structure forholding a removed flare cap in position for lighting a flare; and aspring clip on an end of the carrying structure for holding a lightedflare.
 13. An apparatus for setting safety flares as defined in claim 10wherein the decapper means comprises: a plurality of serrations in theopening for engaging a flare cap: and a portion of the opening having awidth greater than the diameter of a flare and less than the diameter ofa flare cap.